Schools chief gets in jam over resume review

HAMDEN  A town councilwoman is criticizing the judgment of Superintendent of Schools Alida Begina, based on e-mails in which the superintendent discussed the resume of a family friend with a potential contractor for work at Hamden High School.

Michael Gannon

Published 12:00 am, Tuesday, June 8, 2004

Councilwoman Ann Altman, D-5, is questioning whether Begina should have discussed forwarding the resume to Bill Karanian in a June 10, 2003, e-mail, in which she also discussed recommending Karanians firm, the S/L/A/M Collaborative of Glastonbury, to do work on the high schools air-conditioning system.

In the e-mail, Begina said she would forward the resume of Ryan Howard to Karanian. Real estate records indicate that Howard recently purchased a home with Beginas daughter.

In the e-mail, Begina refers to the Legislative Councils approval of a $1.5 million contract for air conditioning at the high school.

"I would very much like to recommend you as the firm to complete this work," the memo reads. "(P)lease give me a call so we can discuss."

The superintendent said there was nothing improper about the contact.

"I asked Bill (Karanian) to critique (Howards) resume while he was looking for a job," Begina said. "He wasnt hired there, and Bill told me they werent hiring at the time."

Begina said the action was no different from anyone else helping a friend with a personal or professional contact.

A year later, no contract has been awarded for the air-conditioning work, and Nicholas Bauer, a member of the Board of Education who serves on the school building committee, said work might not be done until next year.

Board of Education Business Manager Tom Pesce and Judy Kozack of Hamdens Purchasing Department said BL Cos. of Meriden has an $87,000 contract to design specifications for the work.

Altman has been a vocal critic of the superintendent, particularly in connection with the site of the new middle school.

"The inappropriate nature of her action derives from the fact that she was using her position, town time, town facilities and the possibility of a town contract to further the career of someone with whom her daughter has just purchased a house," Altman said.

"This is not unjust if she does it for everyone in Hamden seeking a job."